Science Trivia Questions — page 130

A large plant population may impose selective pressure on a smaller, isolated group of plants, resulting in a change in allele distribution. Which mechanism is responsible for this change in the allele distribution?

• Amutation
• Bgenetic drift
• Ctrait acquisition
• Dhybridization

Which term refers to the study of atmospheric dust and its effect on life on Earth?

• Atricology
• Blithology
• Cvexillogy
• Dconiology

A town in northern Arkansas experienced colder than normal temperatures during part of the winter. Which change was most likely responsible for this?

• AThe Coriolis effect creating a high pressure area
• BA southward dip in the jet stream
• CThe Coriolis effect creating a low pressure area
• DA northward movement of the jet stream

Which processes change magma into igneous rock?

• Aheat and pressure
• Bcompaction and cementation
• Cweathering and erosion
• Dcooling and crystallization

The surface of Earth is constantly changing. Which of these findings provides the best evidence that the crustal surface of Earth has changed over time?

• ASome species have become extinct.
• BMarine fossils are found in mountain areas.
• CSome rock layers are very thick.
• DIgneous rock is found on all tectonic plates.

Which of the following is a SOURCE of light?

• Astar
• Bplanet
• Cmoon
• DEarth

Which is a fact about penguins?

• APenguins are some of the most beautiful birds.
• BPenguins make great pets.
• CPenguins can live in climates with freezing temperatures.
• DPenguins are fierce competitors.

In what part of the human body is the bundle of His located?

• ALungs
• BBrain
• CTesticles
• DHeart

A dog opens its mouth and lets its tongue hang out. A human's body produces sweat. These are two ways that organisms may adjust to

• Aa shortage of food
• Bhot temperatures
• Ccold temperatures
• Da shortage of drinking water

The mathematical constant Pi is inherently involved in which of these math problems ?

• ACalculating the area of polygons
• BCalculating the number of years it takes to double your money in an investment
• CSquaring the circle
• DFinding the optimum value for the weight of a buildings foundation

One positive effect of recycling aluminum cans to manufacture new beverage containers is

• Awarming Earth's atmosphere
• Bcreating acid rain
• Cconserving Earth's resources
• Dincreasing the ozone layer

Scientists have measured the rate of growth of the Atlantic Ocean basin to be about 2 to 3 cm per year. This type of activity coincides with the formation of ridges on the ocean floor. What is the most likely cause of this activity?

• Amovement from tectonic plates
• Bthe deposition of sediment
• Cerosion from tidal action
• Dthe flow of continental basalt

What important mineral is sea lettuce especially rich in?

• AMagnesium
• BIron
• CCopper
• DPotassium

Which layer of Earth is the thinnest?

• AMantle
• BCrust
• COuter core
• DInner core

An engineer was given an assignment to build a model rocket. The main requirement was that it had to build it out of a metal that could release the energy that built up when reentering the atmosphere of Earth. What property should the engineer concentrate on the most when designing the rocket?

• Aboiling point
• Bdensity
• Cspecific heat
• Dductility

A student has just completed a laboratory activity. What is the last action that the student should perform before leaving the lab area?

• Awash instruments and table tops
• Bturn off all equipment
• Cput away all glassware
• Dwash hands

After a rain, a puddle of water remains on a sidewalk. After a day of sunshine, the puddle is gone. Which process is most responsible for the disappearance of the puddle?

• Acondensation
• Bprecipitation
• Cevaporation
• Dtranspiration

What was the name of the first spacecraft to study Mars?

• AMariner 4
• BViking 2
• CViking 1
• DMars 2

The main purpose of the observatory located on the north shore of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, California is studying what?

• AThe Sun
• BPulsars
• CThe Moon
• DBlack holes

Which of the following does not give an example of how sparrows use resources in their environment to survive?

• ASparrows use the sun for food.
• BSparrows use plants for shelter.
• CSparrows drink water.
• DSparrows breathe air.

The Sun has how many times the diameter of the Earth?

• A150
• B100
• C135
• D110

A student is creating a model of a stream in a forested mountain watershed. Which of these features might be included in the model to show how the stream could overload with sediment?

• Arocks in the middle of the stream
• Bacres of cleared forest above the stream
• Ca cabin near the stream
• Dgrasses growing along the banks of the stream

Which of these mixtures would be easiest to separate?

• AFruit salad
• BPowdered lemonade
• CHot chocolate
• DInstant pudding

A radio station broadcasting across a large area is experiencing thunderstorms. How will the radio waves from the station be affected?

• Aspeed will be decreased
• Bamplitude will be unchanged
• Cfrequency will be distorted
• Dwavelength will be increased

A company is making prototypes for a new computer system. Which of the following statements best describes an advantage of making several different prototypes?

• AThey can be produced in large numbers.
• BThey can be tested at the same time.
• CThey will be sold for more than they cost to build.
• DThey will be bought by many different users.

A squirrel dropped an acorn from a branch of an oak tree. Which of these will change as the acorn falls from the tree to the ground?

• Athe velocity of the acorn
• Bthe density of the acorn
• Cthe force on the acorn
• Dthe mass of the acorn

According to the U.S. National Weather Service, after you see and hear the last flash of lightning and roar of thunder, you should wait how long before presuming outdoor activities?

• A10 minutes
• B30 minutes
• C2 hours
• D1 hour

Which statement is the best description of the Milky Way galaxy?

• Aa collection of stars and gases with the Sun as its center
• Ba group of stars, dust, and planets held together by gravity
• Ca collection of gases held together by inertia
• Da group of planets revolving around a single star

What is the best practice to follow when completing an experiment?

• Achecking with your teacher on the procedure to dispose of chemicals
• Bstudying lab procedures prior to conducting the experiment
• Cusing caution when handling hot glassware
• Dturning off burners when you are not using them

Which conclusion can be made about earthworms because they do not have an internal skeleton?

• AThey have radial symmetry.
• BThey have an open circulatory system.
• CThey are invertebrates.
• DThey are made of one segment.

Why is the particular sequence of bases in a segment of DNA important to cells?

• ASome base sequences produce electrical signals sent to the cytoplasm.
• BSome base sequences cause the release of lipids from the nucleus.
• CSome base sequences code for protein production.
• DSome base sequences contain the order of sugars in polysaccharides.

If a mass of 1 kilogram has a gravitational force of approximately 6.8x10^-12 at 1 meter (Earth = 1), what would the surface gravitational force be on a body with a mass of 5x10^18 kilograms and a diameter of 100 kilometers?

• A0.129
• B0.0136
• C0.0034
• D0.00863

Derek hypothesizes that a potted fern in a closed container will stay healthier than the same type of plant on an open windowsill. At the conclusion of his investigation, Derek finds that his results support his hypothesis. Which best explains why Derek should repeat the investigation?

• Ato make sure the results are valid
• Bto learn why the hypothesis is correct
• Cto be able to start another investigation
• Dto prove the investigation is important

A student sets a block at the top of a wooden ramp. The student pushes the block. As the block slides down the ramp, it slows down and then comes to a stop. What force causes the block to slow down?

• Athe force of friction
• Bthe force of gravity
• Cthe force of the student's push
• Dthe force of magnetism

This tasteless, colorless and odorless chemical element makes up most of the Suns volume (approx. 92%).

• AHydrogen
• BOxygen
• CMagnesium
• DChromium

Street maps are examples of two dimensional models. Which information cannot be determined using a basic map?

• Aelevations such as distance above sea level
• Bdirections such as north and south
• Cdistance from place to place
• Dnames of highways and roads

Which distance is the smallest for which it is most practical to use the light-year as a unit of measurement?

• Athe distance between the Sun and the center of the Milky Way
• Bthe distance between Earth and its Moon
• Cthe distance between the Milky Way and the nearest galaxy
• Dthe distance between Jupiter and the Sun

Farm fertilizers are often carried by runoff into the Mississippi River and down to the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in algae blooms. Which of these results from the decomposition of the algae blooms?

• Afood webs with rapidly growing populations
• Ban abundance of dissolved oxygen
• Cdead zones where there are no fish
• Da reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide

Based on the organization of living things, tissues

• Aform systems.
• Bare made of cells.
• Cdo the work of cells.
• Dare made of organs.

Which kind of events can form mountains?

• Alandslides and avalanches
• Bearthquakes and volcanoes
• Cvolcanoes and avalanches
• Dearthquakes and landslides

As you calculate more and more decimal places for the mathematical constant pi, you will eventually reach Feynmans Point. Which one of these most accurately defines Feynmans Point?

• AThe decimal place where we have five nines in a row
• BThe decimal place where we have six zeros in a row
• CThe place where the decimal value of pi shows three 9s in a row
• DThe last decimal place we know

The evidence gained from a design activity is often used to gather information about a technological problem. A design activity is more valid if it

• Ais recorded by a team of scientists.
• Bis performed in a laboratory.
• Cincludes repeated trials.
• Dincludes many steps.

Which of these will most likely harm a habitat?

• Aplanting trees
• Bwater pollution
• Csunlight
• Drainfall

Which of these is not a function of the circulatory system?

• Abreak down food into nutrients
• Bremove waste products from the body
• Cdefend the body against foreign invaders
• Dtransport nutrients and oxygen

Which two systems of the body are interacting when a runner sprains his ankle?

• Athe muscular system and the nervous system
• Bthe nervous system and the digestive system
• Cthe respiratory system and the nervous system
• Dthe digestive system and the circulatory system

This person developed the first system to produce donatable blood plasma and was the first director of a Red Cross Blood Bank in the USA.

• AWilliam Osler
• BCharles Richard Drew
• CFranklin McLean.
• DFelix Bernstein

This in turn causes the average temperature on Earth to rise. Which of the following observations supports that theory?

• AThe summer of 1998 was one of the hottest summer seasons on record.
• BCarbon dioxide gas from cars and industry is a product of burning that produces heat.
• CRadiation on Earth's surface is increasing because of a hole in the ozone layers.
• DCarbon dioxide in the upper atmosphere absorbs and re-emits heat radiated from Earth's surface.

Minerals can be identified using hardness, streak, and cleavage because

• Aminerals have different recognizable properties.
• Bcrystal structure is too hard to determine.
• Ccrystal size is determined by the environment.
• Dminerals are inorganic.

Which of these senses lets Dora know when a skunk has been close to her house?

• ASmell
• BTaste
• CTouch
• DHearing

The surface of Earth is covered by a relatively thin layer of water called the

• Acrust
• Bmantle
• Catmosphere
• Dhydrosphere